A goalkeeping error from Calum Ward gifted Stuart Kettlewell a share of the spoils on his return to Fir Park as Motherwell and Kilmarnock drew 2-2 within the William Hill Premiership.
After taking the lead within the nineteenth minute courtesy of Djenairo Daniels’ opener, Kilmarnock discovered themselves on the again foot.
Tawanda Maswanhise slammed residence a leveller on the stroke of half-time earlier than Emmanuel Longelo accomplished the turnaround simply previous the hour mark.
The Steelmen appeared in whole command till Ward spilt a looping cross within the 81st minute into the trail of George Stanger, who knocked residence the equaliser.
Kettlewell was booed on his return to Fir Park for the primary time since his shock departure in January.
Motherwell started brightly, controlling the overwhelming majority of the possession.
With seven minutes on the clock, a well-worked passing transfer ended with Maswanhise drawing a superb low cease from Max Stryjek.
The guests got here shut with their first assault when Liam Polworth tried his luck from distance, however his shot strayed simply extensive.
Killie slowly grew into the sport, and Daniels had an effort comfortably saved by Ward earlier than the striker glanced over after a very good supply from Dom Thompson.
A giant second got here within the seventeenth minute after Daniels appeared to catch Lukas Fadinger together with his elbow. Nonetheless, he was cleared of any wrongdoing following a fast VAR test.
Two minutes later, the Dutchman made the a lot of the resolution. Brad Lyons picked him out with a low cross and he coolly turned the ball past the keeper.
The Steelmen virtually got here up with a direct response as Maswanhise flashed a volley inches extensive.
It was one-way visitors in direction of the away objective. Fadinger noticed his strike blocked, then a incredible last-ditch deal with from Lyons denied Apostolos Stamatelopoulos a transparent sight of objective.
The equaliser finally arrived in added time of the primary half. Ibrahim Mentioned’s fizzing shot was parried into the trail of Maswanhise to slam residence the rebound.
Kettlewell made a double change at half-time, taking off Lyons and Daniels, who each had been booked throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Nonetheless, it was the hosts who continued to look the extra seemingly. Elijah Simply weaved his method in direction of the sting of the field earlier than his drive was desperately blocked by Lewis Mayo.
Moments later, the house gamers screamed for a penalty when Mentioned hit the deck contained in the field however their hopes had been dashed by VAR.
The hosts finally made their dominance rely within the 62nd minute. Maswanhise’s preliminary effort was blocked earlier than Simply laid on for Longelo to arrow an unstoppable low shot past the helpless Stryjek.
Kilmarnock had been gifted an equaliser with 9 minutes remaining when Ward badly misjudged the flight of Mayo’s cross and Stanger was in the suitable place on the proper time to bundle the ball into the web.
Callum Hendry blazed a free-kick effectively over the bar as Motherwell tried to revive their benefit.
They virtually discovered themselves leaving with nothing when Marcus Dackers spurned the ultimate alternative of the sport, sending his close-range header straight at Ward.
It’s the first time within the twenty first century that either side have opened their campaigns with 4 successive attracts.